Dip-net.



No. 69,465. Patented 1an. 2|, |902.

S. W. HIGGINS. f

UIPNET.

(Apliction led Apr. 8, 1901.)

(N o M o d el mi wams Pmws co, maro-urna., mSHmsroN. n4 c lapsing.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEI'CE.

SYLVESTER V. HIGGINS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

DIP-NET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,465, dated January 21, 1902.

Application filed April 8,1901. Serial No. 54,915. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLvEsTER WHIGGINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dip-Nets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates more particularly to minnow dip-nets; and it is the object of the invention to obtain a construction which may be stored in a compact form for carrying or packing.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of a collapsible marginalsupportingframe for the net, and, further, in details of construction, as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the net-frame expanded for use and showing the net in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the frame as shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the telescopic sections contracted. Fig. 4 is a view with two of the sections contracted and two expanded to form an oblong frame. Fig. 5 illustrates the frame partially collapsed for packing or carrying. Fig. 6 shows the frame fully collapsed. Fig. '7 is an elevation of one of the sections comprising the frame. Fig. 8 shows the clamp for holding the frame from col- Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the parts of the clamp, and Fig. l0 is a longitudinal section through one of the sections of the frame.

The collapsible framecomprises a plurality of rods or sections flexibly connected to each other at adjacent ends, so as to be capable of folding into parallelism. This exible connection is preferably formed by providing the ends of the rods with eyes C, which are tied together by al cord or other flexible connection. If desired,this tie may be formed as a portion of the cord B, which serves to snpport the net at the angles of the frame, as shown in Fig. l.

To hold the frame from collapsing when in use, a lock is employed for holding two-ad jacent sections in iixed relation to each other. This is preferably formed as shown in the drawings, particularly in Figs. 8 and 9, in which D is a brace-bar having its opposite ends formed with grooves adapted to fit over the bars A when said brace-bar is arranged diagonally across the corner of the frame. Two of these bars D are placed upon opposite sides of the frame and are then locked together by a key, such as E. This key'is formed of a flat piece of metal slotted upon opposite sides to form a central reduced portion a, square in cross-section and adapted to b e inserted in registering slots F in the brace-bar D. The reduced portion a of the key is adapted to turn in an enlargement c of the slot P to permit of the turning of said keyinto a position shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, in which position it will clamp the two sections D together, and thereby hold the adjacent bars A in fixed relation. The key may be held from turning by slipping it into the narrow portion of the slot.

In order to provide for more compactly folding the frame, each of the bars A is preferably formed of two or more telescopic sections b and b, permitting of contracting the frame, as shown in Fig. 3, or of expanding it, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The frame thus constructed has a net, such as G, secured thereto preferably by inserting each of the rods A in a series of loops H, secured to the margin of the net, so as to support the same at short intervals around the frame. The loops H are preferably formed by knotting a single cord I, which extends along the margin of the net, and this cord is also connected to the eyes C and serves to prevent elongation of said marginal edge, and thereby prevent accidental disengagement of the telescopic sections. The net, being constructed as described, -when in use may be arranged as shown in Fig. l, in which the net proper is supported by the frame, and the latter is supported by the cords B, connected to the four corners. When in this position, it is ready for use, the bars D serving to hold the frame in substantially rectangular form and the telescopic sections being held from contraction by frictional engagement. If a smaller size is desired, the frame may be contracted, as shown in Fig. 4, and still a smaller size is shown in Fig. 3. The frame may be quickly folded for carrying by contracting the telescopic sections and turning two of the sides A into parallelism with the Opposite two without disconnecting'the bars D, as shownin IOO Fig. 5. When it is desired to fully collapse the frame, the brace D isdisengaged by tn rning and disengaging-the key E, after which all of the sections may be folded into parallelism, as shown in Fig. 6. The convenient size is one in which the frame when folded for carrying is about eighteen inches long and three inches in diameter. This when expanded will form a square of nearly three feet in diameter.

The frame-sections are preferably made of metallic tubing, telescopically engaging each other, as shown.

What I claim as4 my invention is- 1. In a dip-net, Aa collapsible marginallyextending supporting-frantic and means for locking said frame from collapsing.

2. In a dip-net a collapsible marginallyextending supporting-frame comprising side sections flexibly connected at their adjacent ends and means for locking a pair of' said sections in fixed relation to prevent collapsing of the frame.

3. In adip-net-,a collapsible marginal frame comprising a plurality of telescopic side'sections flexibly connected at their adjacent ends and means for llocking a pair of said sections in fixed relation to preventthe collapsing of the frame.

4. In a dip-net, a collapsible marginallyextendingframecomprisingapluralityofside sections flexibly connected at their adjacent ends and a lock for locking said sections from collapsing comprising a brace extending diagonally across the corner of adjacent sections and having a clamping engagement therewith.

5. In a dip-net, a collapsible marginallyextending frame comprisinga pl uralityof rods having eyes formed at opposite ends thereof, flexible ties connecting said eyes of adjacent rods and a clamp extending diagonally across the corner.

6. In a dip-net, a collapsible marginallyextending su pporting-frame comprisingaplurality of side sections flexibly connected to each other at adjacent ends and a lock for preventing the collapsing of said frame comprising a diagonal brace formed of two clampingbars the ends of which are adapted to embrace said side sections on opposite sides thereof and a central portion of said brace being provided with registering slots and a key for locking said brace-bars together adapted to fit said registering slots and having a reduced portion for turning therein substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. A dip-net comprising a net having a cord forming a margin or selvage therefor and a series of loops connected to said cord in combination with a collapsible frame comprising a plurality of telescopic side bars adapted to engage with said loops and flexibly connected to each other.

8. A dip-net comprising a marginal frame formed of a telescopic section, and a cord connecting the opposite ends of the engaging sections adapted to limit the elongation thereof to prevent disengagement, and said cord also serving as a means for securing the netto the frame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

SYLVESTER W. HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, l'I. C. SMITH. 

